Piezoelectric voltage source for ignition means

ABSTRACT

An ignition means for a burner means of a cooking apparatus or the like by creating electrical sparks at the pilot burner means thereof, the sparks being created by the altering of the stresses in piezoelectric crystal means that is rocked relative to the supporting structure by a cam element disposed between the crystal means and an end surface of a supporting frame structure. The cam element is carried by a lever arm that is guided in its movement by cooperating surface means of the support frame.

United States Patent IGNITION MEANS Primary Examiner-Volodymyr Y.Mayewsky 9 Claims, 6 Drawing Figs. Aztorneys-Auzville Jackson, Jr.,Robert L. Marben and 52 US. Cl sin/8.7, Cami &

317/81, 315/55, 431/255 [51 ll'lt. Cl H0lv 7/00 ABSTRACT; An ignitionmeans'for a burner means f a k [50] Field of Search 3 l 7/79EE, iapparatus or the hke Which creates electrical sparks at the 81, 96, 79;310/83, 8.7; 95/1 1.5; 315/55; 431/13, pilot burner means thereof, thesparks being created by the al- 25 5 tering of the stresses inpiezoelectric crystal means that is [56] References (med rocked relativeto the supporting structure by a cam element disposed between thecrystal means and an end surface of a UNlTED STATES PATENTS supportingframe structure. The cam element is carried by a 3,350,608 10/ 1967Maltner et a1. 317/96 lever arm that is guided in its movement bycooperating sur- 3,463,943 8/ 1969 Parkinson. 310/83 face means of thesupport frame.

PATENTEU JAN 26 i971 SHEET 1 [1F 2 FIG.2

INVENTOR ARTHUR LGOOD HIS ATTORNEYS PATENTEUJANZBISYI 3558,935

' SHEET 2 UP 2 INVENTOR v ARTHUR L.GOOD

av I 7 HIS ATTORNEYS PIEZOELECTRIC VOLTAGE SOURCE FOR IGNITION MEANSThis invention relates to an improved ignition means for burner means orthe like.

It is well known that many cooking apparatus of the fuel burning varietyeach has an individual .pilot burner means for each main burner thereofwhether the main burner is disposed in the oven or on top of thecooking-apparatus, the pilot burner means each being continuouslyburning burners and when adversely put out because of air currents orthe like, the same must be reignited by the housewife, or the like,utilizing matches or the like.

However, according to the teachings of this invention, ignition meansare provided for such a pilot burner means wherein the housewife or thelike can initiate theactuation of the ignition means completely remotefrom the pilot burner means while igniting the pilot burner means in asimple and effective manner.

In particular, the ignition means of this invention includespiezoelectric crystal means that when actuated by the housewife or thelike will have the stresses therein altered in such a manner that thesame will cause sparking at the pilot burner means to ignite the same,the ignition means including improved means for applying a compressingor squeezing action on the piezoelectric crystal means as well asproviding a relieving such compressing or squeezing action to also alterthe stresses thereof.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improvedignition means for a cooking apparatus or the like, the ignition meansof this invention having one or more of the novel features set forthabove or hereinafter shown or described.

Other objects, uses and advantages of this invention are apparent from areading of this description which proceeds with reference to theaccompanying drawings forming a part thereof and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of the improved ignition means of thisinvention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of various parts of the ignitionmeans of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 1 and illustrates the various operatingpositions of the ignition means of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the cam actuating portion ofthe ignition means of FIG. 4, FIG. 5 illustrating the cam member in oneoperating position thereof.

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 and illustrates the cam member inanother operating position thereof.

While the various features of this invention are hereinafter describedand illustrated as being particularly adaptable for providing ignitionmeans for a cooking apparatus, it is to be understood that the variousfeatures of this invention can be utilized singly or in any combinationthereof to provide ignition means for other apparatus as desired.

Therefore, this invention is not to be limited to only the embodimentsillustrated in the drawings, because the drawings are merely utilized toillustrate one of the wide variety of uses of this invention.

Referring now to, FIGS. l-3, the improved ignition means of thisinvention is generally indicated by the reference numeral l0 andcomprises a support frame 11 carrying a piezoelectric crystal means orstack 12 in such a manner that when an operating lever 13 is movedrelative to the support frame 11, the crystal means 12 will causesparkingat a spark gap 14 defined by an electrode 15 and a pilot burnermeans 16 in a manner hereinafter described, the. sparking at the sparkgap 14 being adapted to ignite fuel issuing from an outlet means 17 ofthe pilot burner means 16 so that the ignited pilot burner means 16 caneffectively ignite fuel issuing from a main burner means 18 of a cookingapparatus or the like utilizing the ignition means of this invention.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the crystal means or stack 12 comprises a pairof piezoelectric crystal elements 19 and 20 disposed in axially alignedrelation with an electrical terminal 21 disposed thereb'etween andelectrically interconnected to an insulated lead 22 leading to theelectrode 15, the electrode being electrically insulated from the framestructure of the cooking apparatus carrying the burner means 16 and 18.

The crystal elements 19 and are confined in a suitable incapsulating orhousing member 23 having suitable openings for receiving metallic anvilsor pressure pad means 24 and 25 at the opposed ends thereof, the anvilmeans 24 and 25 being respectively disposed against the opposed ends 26and 27 of the respective crystal elements 19 and 20.

support frame 11 hasa cutout or slot means 28 passing therethrough anddefining an elongated slot 29 at the lower end 30 thereof and a guideslot 31 at the other end 32 thereof. A roller element 33 isdisposed inthe slot 29 of the support frame 11 and supports the crystal stack l2byhaving the anvil 25 thereof bearing against the roller portions 34 ofthe lower element 33 for a purpose hereinafter described.

The cutout 28 in the support frame 11 defines a flat end wall 35 at theupper end of the guide slot 31 and a pair of opposed arcuate end walls36 and 37 facing each other in spaced relation. A flat platelike member38 having the opposed ends 39 and 40 thereof provided with notches 4land 42 is disposed against the flat end wall 35 of the support frame 11while the notches 41 and 42 thereof respectively receive the end walls36 and 37 as illustrated in FIG. I.

A cam member 43 is disposed in the guide slot 31 between the plate 38and the flat end surface 44 of the upper anvil 24, the cam member 43having a true partial, circular cross-sectional surface 45concentrically disposed about the longitudinal axis 46 thereof and anupper chordal cross-sectional surface 47 joining the partial circularsurface 45 to define a pair of crosssectional corners 48 and 49therewith.

The cam member 43 has a slot 50 interrupting the end 51 thereof with theslot 50 forming a true diameter of the cam element 43.

Theactuating lever for the ignition means 10 has an upper end 52disposed or bent at right angles relative to the main body 53 of thelever 13 and defines a guide means or member for the cam element 43. Inparticular, the guide part 52 of the lever 13 has a rectangular slot 54passing therethrough and defining opposed shoulder means 55 and 56, theslot 54 being so constructed and arranged that the cam element 43 can bedisposed therein and receive the shoulder means 55 in the slot means 50thereof whereby when the guide part 52 and cam element 43 are assembledtogether, the same will move in unison relative to the frame 11. Theguide part 52 of the lever 13 has a pair of opposed notches 57 and 58cut therein at the respective side edges 59 and 60 to respectivelydefine guide surface means 61 and 62 respectively receiving the opposedend wall means 36 and 37 of the support frame 11 when the lever 13 isassembled thereto as illustrated in the drawings.

Therefore, it can be seen that the various parts forming the ignitionmeans 10 of this invention are relatively simple to manufacture and arereadily adapted to be assembled together to provide spark igniting meansfor the burner means of a cocking apparatus or the like by operating inthe following manner.

As previously stated, the electrode 15 electrically interconnected tothe terminal means 21 of the crystal stack 12 cooperates with the pilotburner means 16 to define the spark gap 14 adjacent the outlet means 17of the pilot burner 16. Since the pilot burner means 16 is formed ofmetallic material and is directly secured to the metallic framestructure of a cooking apparatus or the like, the pilot burner means 16forms an electrode that is at ground potential, as indicatedschematically by ground means 63 in FIG. 1, because the conventionalcooking apparatus is grounded by the fuel supply conduits interconnectedthereto as well as by conventional grounding means.

Thus, when the housewife or the like finds that the burner means 18 willnot ignite when the fuel is directed to the main burner means 18 by theconventional selector knob means on the cooking apparatus or thehousewife or the like actually notices that no flame is existing at thepilot burner means 16, the housewife or the like will move the lever 13in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction as illustratedrespectively in FIGS. 5 and 6 to effect sparking at the spark gap 14 toignite the fuel issuing from the pilot burner means 16.

For example, assuming that the lever means 13 is being moved in aclockwise direction as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, the guide part 52of the lever 13 is likewise being moved in a clockwise direction and is.being guided by thearcuate end walls 36 and 37 of the support frame 11cooperating with the notches 57 and 58 so that the axis 46 of the camelement 43 will be moved in an are that is always in substantially 21equal distance relationship between the parts of arcuate end walls 36and 37 being engaged by the guide part 52 to not only rotate the camelement 43, but also to cause the axis 46 thereof to move downwardly andto'the left as illustrated in FIG. 5 as the corner 48 of the cam element43 bears against the flat plate 38 and the partial circular surface 45thereof rolls against the flat surface 44of the anvil 24 of the crystalstack means 12. Since the effective length of the cam element 43 betweenthe plate 38 and the anvil 24 is progressively increasing as the camelement 43 is, in effect, rotated in a clockwise direction with thelever 13, a compressing or squeezing action is imposed in a longitudinalmanner between the opposed ends 26 and 27 of the crystal elements 19 and20 to alter the stresses thereof. As the cam element 43 is rotating in aclockwise direction, it can be seen that the crystal stack 12 rockstherewith in a counterclockwise direction on the roller means 33 so thatthe longitudinal axis of the crystal stack means 12 moves from thetruevertical position as illustrated generally by the reference numeral64 in FIGS. 4 and 5 to the angular position generally indicated by thereference numeral 64A in FIGS. 4 and 5 so that the compressing andsqueezing action being imposed by the cam'member 43 on the crystalelements 19 and 20 will not adversely affect the same while stilleffectively altering the stresses thereof to produce the aforementionedsparking at the spark gap 14.

In particular, as the stresses in the crystal elements 19 and 20 arebeing altered inthe above manner, a potential difference is beingcreated at the electrode 15 and the grounded electrode 16 so that whensuch differences in potential reaches a certain magnitude, electricsparking or arcing will be created therebetween at the spark gap 14 toignite the fuel issuing from the outlet means 17 of the pilot burnermeans 16. Such sparking at the spark gap 14 can occur one or more timesat the spark gap 14 during the clockwise rotation of the cam element 43.After the cam element 43 has been rotated in a clockwise direction acertain amount, merely releasing the lever 13 will permit the crystalstack 12 to exert an expanding force to rotate the cam element 43 backto the full line position illustrated in FIG. 1 whereby such expansionof the crystal elements 19 and 20 will also alter the stresses thereofto create the aforementioned potential difference at the electrodes 15and 16 for further sparking at the spark gap 14 one or more times.

. Conversely, should the lever 14 be moved relative to the support frame1 l in a counterclockwise direction as illustrated in FIG. 6, the guidepart 52 will cause a counterclockwise rotation of the cam element 43 sothat the cam element 43 will rock on the corner 49 thereof to producethe aforementioned squeezing and compressing action on the crystal stack12 while causing the crystal stack 12 to rock in a clockwise directionon the roller means 33 so that the longitudinal axis 64 thereofillustrated in FIGS. 4 and 6 will be moved from the true verticalposition thereof to the angular position generally indicated by thereference numeral 648 in FIGS, 4 and 6.

In order to prevent overstressing of the crystal stack 12 during theaforementioned clocks clockwise or counterclockwise movement of thelever 13, it can readily be seen in FIG. 4 that the guide part 52 of thelever 13 will engage the lower surface of the plate 38 to preventfurther clockwise or counterclockwise movement of the lever 13 relativeto the frame 11.

Also, since the slot in the cam element 43 receives the shoulder of theguide part 52 of the lever 13 in a region closely adjacent the main body53 of the lever 13, the torque being imposed on the cam element 43 bythe clockwise or counterclockwise movement of the lever 13 is maintainedclose to the actuating end 53 of the lever 13.

From the above, it can be seen that the parts for forming the improvedignition means 10 of this invention can be readily assembled together toprovide a rugged and accurate assembly which have a relatively longlife.

For example, after the cam element 43 has been disposed in the slot 54of the guide part 52 of the lever 13 so that the shoulder 55 is fullyreceived in the slot at one end of the cam element 43, the othershoulder part 56 of the guide part 52 can be staked or deformed towardthe adjacent end of the assembled cam element 43 in the mannerillustrated in FIG. 2 to hold the cam element 33 in assembled relationwith the lever 13.

Also, after the various parts of the ignition means 10 have beenassembled in the stacked arrangement illustrated in FIGv 1, the framemember 11 can be staked at the opposed sides thereof in the mannerillustrated by the reference numeral in FIGS. 1 and 2 to upwardly deformpart of the frame 11 between the opposed ends 30 and 32 thereof to lockthe stacked elements 38, 43, 12 and 44 into position within the cutoutrelief 29 of the frame 11 as illustrated. Thus, the staked orelongationally squeezed section 65 of the frame 11 locks the assembly tothe frame 11.

While the above description of the operation of the ignition means 10has been described as the lever means 13 being moved either in aclockwise or counterclockwise direction from the position illustrated inFIG. 1, it is to be understood that the actuation of the ignition means10 can be produced by the housewife or the like moving the lever 13 inboth a clockwise and counterclockwise direction to effect sparking atthe spark gap 14. Thus, while it is believed that just one back andforth operation of the lever 13 will produce sufficient sparking at thespark gap 14 to ignite the pilot burner 16, a a mere repetitive actionof the housewife or the like moving the lever means 13 will more thaninsure that the pilot burner means 16 will be fully ignited.

Further, while the ignition means of this invention has been describedas igniting pilot burner means for the cooking apparatus, it is to beunderstood that such ignition means can be utilized to directly ignitethe main burner means of the cooking apparatus or the like withoututilizing the intermediate pilot burner means therefor. Also, if it isfound that the electrical capacitance of the appliance is too great, theignition means 10 of this invention could be utilized with two wiresconnected to spaced electrodes forming the spark gap while the ignitionmeans 10 is insulated in any suitable manner from the frame structure ofthe cooking apparatus or the like.

While the form of the invention nowpreferred has been disclosed asrequired by the statutes, other forms may be used, all coming within thescope of the claims which follow.

I claim:

1. In combination, a support frame, piezoelectric crystal means carriedby said support frame and being adapted to have the stresses thereofaltered to create ignition sparks and the like, said crystal meanshaving an end surface, said frame having an end surface facing said endsurface of said crystal means and being spaced therefrom, a cam memberdisposed between said end surfaces and being in engagement therewith,and lever means secured to said cam member for rotating said cam memberin unison with said lever means relative to said end surfaces to varythe distance therebetween and thereby vary the effective force of saidcam member acting on said end surface of said crystal means to alter thestresses thereof, said lever means being directly guided in its movementby said frame to not only rotate said cam member and said lever meansrelative to said frame, but also to move the axis of rotation of saidcam member and said lever means relative to said frame.

2. A combination as set forth inclaim 1 wherein said cam member has aflat surface for engaging one of said end surfaces. I

3. A combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said crystal means hasan opposed end surface, and roller means carried by said frame andengaging said opposed end surface.

4. A combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said lever means has aportion thereof that defines a guide member carried by said cam member.

5. In combination, a support frame, piezoelectric crystal means carriedby said support frame and being adapted to have the stresses thereofaltered to create ignition sparks and the like, said crystal meanshaving-an end surface, said frame having an end surface facing said endsurface of said crystal means and being spaced therefrom, a cam memberdisposed between said end surfaces and being in engagement therewith,and means for rotating said cam member relative to said end surfaces tovary the distance therebetween and thereby vary the effective force ofsaid cam member acting on said end surface of said crystal means toalter the stresses thereof, said last-named means being directly guidedin its movement by said frame to not only rotate said cam memberrelative to said frame, but also to move the axis of rotation of saidcam member relative to said frame, said last-named means comprising aguide member carried by said cam member, said guide member having a slotpassing therethrough and receiving said cam member, said slot defining ashoulder on said guide member, said cam member. having a notch thereinreceiving said shoulder whereby said guide member and said cam memberare interconnected together.

6. A combination as set forth in claim 4 wherein said support frame hasopposed wall means, said guide member having opposed guide surfacesrespectively guided by said opposed wall means during movement of saidguide member.

7. A combination as set forth in' claini 1 wherein said lever means andsaid guide member are integral.

8. A combination as set forth in claim 6 wherein said support frame hasa slot means passing therethrough and defining said opposed end wallmeans thereof.

9. In combination. a support frame, piezoelectric crystal means carriedby said support frame and being adapted to have the stresses thereofaltered to create ignition sparks and the like, said crystal meanshaving an end surface, said frame having an end surface facing said endsurface of said crystal means and being spaced therefrom, a cam memberdisposed between said end surfaces and being in engagement therewith,and means for rotating said cam member relative to said end surfaces tovary the distance therebetween and thereby vary the effective force ofsaid cam member acting on said end surface of said crystal means toalter the stresses thereof, said last-named means being directly guidedin its movement by said frame to not only rotate said cam memberrelative to said frame, but also to move the axis of rotation of saidcam member relative to said frame, said last-named means comprising aguide member carried by said cam member, said sup port frame havingopposed wall means, said guide member having opposed guide surfacesrespectively guided by said opposed wall means during movement of saidguide member,

said support frame having a slot means passing therethrough and definingsaid opposed end wall means thereof, said guide member having opposednotches therein respectively defining said guide surfaces thereof,'saidnotches respectively receiving said end wall means of said supportframe.

2. A combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said cam member has aflat surface for engaging one of said end surfaces.
 3. A combination asset forth in claim 1 wherein said crystal means has an opposed endsurface, and roller means carried by said frame and engaging saidopposed end surface.
 4. A combination as set forth in claim 1 whereinsaid lever means has a portion thereof that defines a guide membercarried by said cam member.
 5. In combination, a support frame,piezoelectric crystal means carried by said support frame and beingadapted to have the stresses thereof altered to create ignition sparksand the like, said crystal means having an end surface, said framehaving an end surface facing said end surface of said crystal means andbeing spaced therefrom, a cam member disposed between said end surfacesand being in engagement therewith, and means for rotating said cammember relative to said end surfaces to vary the distance therebetweenand thereby vary the effective force of said cam member acting on saidend surface of said crystal means to alter the stresses thereof, saidlast-named means being directly guided in its movement by said frame tonot only rotate said cam member relative to said frame, but also to movethe axis of rotation of said cam member relative to said frame, saidlast-named means comprising a guide member carried by said cam member,said guide member having a slot passing therethrough and receiving saidcam member, said slot defining a shoulder on said guide member, said cammember having a notch therein receiving said shoulder whereby said guidemember and said cam member are interconnected together.
 6. A combinationas set forth in claim 4 wherein said support frame has opposed wallmeans, said guide member having opposed guide surfaces respectivelyguided by said opposed wall means during movement of said guide member.7. A combination as set Forth in claim 1 wherein said lever means andsaid guide member are integral.
 8. A combination as set forth in claim 6wherein said support frame has a slot means passing therethrough anddefining said opposed end wall means thereof.
 9. In combination, asupport frame, piezoelectric crystal means carried by said support frameand being adapted to have the stresses thereof altered to createignition sparks and the like, said crystal means having an end surface,said frame having an end surface facing said end surface of said crystalmeans and being spaced therefrom, a cam member disposed between said endsurfaces and being in engagement therewith, and means for rotating saidcam member relative to said end surfaces to vary the distancetherebetween and thereby vary the effective force of said cam memberacting on said end surface of said crystal means to alter the stressesthereof, said last-named means being directly guided in its movement bysaid frame to not only rotate said cam member relative to said frame,but also to move the axis of rotation of said cam member relative tosaid frame, said last-named means comprising a guide member carried bysaid cam member, said support frame having opposed wall means, saidguide member having opposed guide surfaces respectively guided by saidopposed wall means during movement of said guide member, said supportframe having a slot means passing therethrough and defining said opposedend wall means thereof, said guide member having opposed notches thereinrespectively defining said guide surfaces thereof, said notchesrespectively receiving said end wall means of said support frame.